Apparatus for treatment of fiber-bearing and other plants.



G. W.-SGHLIGHTEN.

APPARATUS FOB. TREATMENTv OI FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

v APPLIGATION FILED JULY 11 1910. 1,021,269. Patented Mar.26,1912.

12 SHEETSSHBET l.

5% h #4 ye @N 1 4 m 9% 0 $5 D/ \Q N Q @w B 0 e NMN I, w. .H

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

G. W. SOHLIOHTEN. APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT or FIBER BEARING AND OTHERPLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11 1910.

JJZ/neawesz- G. W. SGHLIGHTBN. APPARATUS FOB. TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARINGAND OTHER PLANTS.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1910.

1,021 ,269. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHBETS -SHEET 3.

illlllfll l lillll ilillllml lll lll i "-4 G. W. SGHLIGHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1910.

1,021,269. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHEETBSHBET 4.

.52 .55 n I is w J] [I o g i 5/ Ftg7f2 55 fir 211612707 G. W.SCHLIGHTEN. APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 11, 1910.

1,021 ,269. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

G. W. SGHLIOHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1910. 1,021,269. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHBETBSHEET 6.

v G. W. SOHLICHTEN. APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHERPLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1910.

1 ,02 1 ,269. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

l G. W.- SOHLIUHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

- APPLICATION IILED JULY 11, 1910. 1,021 ,269.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912 12 SHEETSSHEET s.

G. W. SGHLIGHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

Patented 11:11:26, 1912.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 11, 1910. 1,021 ,269;

12 sH'BBTssHBET 9.

VIII/[(II/(IIIIIIIIIIII/I;

mssemr G. W. SCHLIGHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11, 1910;

04 1 9 11 no 2 n a M m m M P G. W. SGHLIGHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

APPLICATION TIL ED JULY 11, 1910.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHEETSSHEET 11 jade 07", olyemab'v? J G. W. SCHLICHTEN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FIBER BEARING AND OTHER PLANTS.

APPLIGATION TILED JULY 11, 1910.

1,021,269. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

12 SHEETS-SHEET l2.

GEORGE ILLIAM SCHLICHTEN, or Los AnGnLEs, camromvm.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF-FIBER-BEARING AI ID OTHER PLANTS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed July 11, 1910. Serial No. 571,484.

[0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoncn VILIJIAM SCHLICHTEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Treatment ofFiber-Bearing and other Plants, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention .relates to the operation whereby the stalks, leaves orother parts of fiber bearing plants, in particular such as ramie, flax,hemp, jute, sesbania and the like, are manipulated, and the fiber or theseed thereof is separated from the woody, fleshy and refuse materialcontained in the stalks, etc.

The main object of the invention is to separate and clean the fiber fromthe fiber bearing stalks or plants without entanglifig, breaking,tearing or injuring the fiber or making the same towey.

Another object of the invention is to provide for extracting and savingthe seed of flax, sesbania and similar plants without injury thereto.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide for simultaneousseparation from the fiber bearing stalks or plants of the fiber and theseed without injury to either of them.

Another object. of the invention is to providc for treatment of tangledor broken stalks or plants in such a manner that the fiber thereof .isrecovered in commercially valuableform.

Another object of the invention is to provide for preparing the fibersin practically perfect condition for carding or combing for spinningandthe seed in clean condition for crushing or grinding.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for theabove stated purpose which will be readily changeable or adjustable toadapt it to different conditions of practice. In'this connection theinvention provides a series of elements for performing successiveoperations upon the fiber-containing stalks or leaves, such as crushing,splitting, breaking, scutching, stripping, combing, drawing, rubbing,cleaning and hackling, and the operative elements for each of theseoperations may be duplicated or multiplied or may be provided in formsgiving a stronger or 'weaker action on the fiber being treated, or someof them may be omit-ted, according to the requirements of the fiber orof the condition of the fiber.

Other objects and advantages of the in-' vention will appearhereinafter.

My process of treating the fiber-containing stalks consists essentiallyin first crushing the stalks by running them longitudinally betweencompressing surfaces so to flatten the stalks and partially loosen thefiber from the interior portion of the stalks. Second, of partiallysplitting the crushed stalks so as to divide and spread the skin orouter portions, containing the fiber, but without breaking'the interioror Woody portions of the stalks. Third, subjecting the stalks to alongitudinal bending action to break the interior woody portion intosections. Fourth, subjecting the stalks to a scutching operation inwhich it is subjected to a longitudinal stripping effect by means ofapplying frictional pressure thereto and is also subjected to a shakingand beating operation, and to combing and drawing operations toeliminate the broken wood or hurdst Fifth, running the fiberlongitudinally through means exerting fieXion,pressure and friction onthe fiber to soften the same and release the residue of'the woodymatterand bark as well as gum from the tiber. Seventh, running the fiberlongitudinally through a second scutching means wherein it is subjectedagain to the stripping, beating, combing, drawing, rubbing and cleaningoperations to dislodge the loosened, Woody matter, etc., from the fiber.

The process, being intended especially for simultaneous recovery of thefiber and of the seeds, provides for separation-and 001- lection of theseeds during the aforesaid operations, the seeds being loosened anddis-- lodged from the stalks by the crushing,

splitting, breaking, and scutching opera-- tions before it reaches thesoftening operation above described and being collected as itis thusseparated and subjected to cleaning operations. r

In application to special fibers, some of the above steps,may be omittedand other steps substituted therefor and in case of invention, andtheretoz-Figure 1- is a side elevation of the machine, showing the seedcollccling and cleaning means in section. 2 is a plan of the machine.

3 is a side elevation of the 'sclzion" of the machine comprising thesplitting "and breaking devices. Fig. 4 1s a transverse section on theline a. Fig. 5 a plan of the aminrahus shown in Fig.1.? Figs. 6 and Tarevariation in off the corrugations therein.

Fig. 10 a side elevation, partlyhroken away, of the scuhching mechanism.11' is a partial and elevation thereonfl iowing one side bar of thesupporting frame lion. 12 is a partial plan view of the 1 scnlchingmechanism. Fig. 13 is a pee five of one of the scutehing bars. igl 14 isa side elevation of two of said bars in working relation. Fig. 15 is asimilar view to Fig. 14, showing the preferred ment of the teeth on thebars. Fig. 18 is s. side clevafion of a modified form of the scutchingher. Fig. 17 is an end elevetion thereof. Fig. 18 is a plan oi amodified form of the scntehing bar. 19 is'a longitudi course of theiiher thereflirongli. Fig. 52 is nal secliom'pertly in elevation,thereof. 1* 1g 20 is an end view of the scntching bar shown in Figs. 18and 19. 21 and 22 are, perspectives showing further modifications of Ithe 23 is an end elevation of a so ning device. F 9A is a section on theline z--w" in Fig. is a section, showing the manner of intermeshing ofthe corrugations 45 in the rollers. Figs. 26 and 27am sizeothe.corrugations in the softening rollers. 28 is an end elevation ofsupplementary cleaning'mechanism for rubhing the residue, adherent barkand woody matter from the fiber, in where such supplementary action isrequired. Fig. 29 13' a thereof. Fig. 30 a partial seclion on' line inFig. 28. 31 is a section on line is -e" in Fig. Figs. 32 and as are sideelevations of rolls used in said Supnechanism showing variations m '1. F

lthereof. elevation-oi e 'a mechanism flmo o pe "on, as ereinaiterdescribed.

'35 is a plan"themof. 36 is a 'side elevation of 'a pair of hacklmgelements,

cooperation. Fig. 37 is a par- .of one of said elements. 7 38 is a wveof a modified form ereoi.

Figas s e longihndinal sections illustrating ills val-lag lion in sizeof the ribs on the s ilifimg roll..- Figs. 8 and 9 are fiagmentarytransverse sections of the breakingroll the parlialsections, showing thevariation in the :fililc perspective, show-- oration ofthe ing anamplification of the first section of the machine, wherein a series ofbreaking rollers are provided having graded corrugations adapted. in netwith successively stronger offoot on the stalk or fiber material.

40 isan cud elevation, showing a difierout form of the supplementarycleaning means which mej'be substituted for the form shown in Fig. 28.Fig. 41 is a partial plan view there0f;. -Fig. 42is a section on theline z":u". in F1g. 41. Fig. 43 is an end view of another form of saidsupplementary cleanmcans-which may besubstifnted for the form shown-inFig. 28. Fig. 44 is a side eleration thereof. Fig. 45 is a perspectiveof modified form of hackling mechanism which may be substituted for thatshown in Fig.

34. 46 is a plan of one of the hackling bars. 47 is an inverted plan ofthe hackling ire-me 'or card shown in F 45. 48 s a general" diagrammaticper spective of the several elements in the apparatus'to illustrate themanner in which the process is carried on therein. 49 is a dia bicperspective illustrating the operation of the first section includingthe crushing, .and breaking rollers. 49 is a sectional view showing the0p rolls. Fig. 49 is :1 sectional view illustrating the operation of therolls. Fig; 50 is a'diagrammetic section the operation of thescntchtingin'ieazns. Fig. 51- is a plan of the lower switching membershowing the aside elevation of the cooperating scntching Fig. 53 is edigrammatic view illustrating a modified arrangement and op .erationofthe means. 54 is a.

plan of one of the scntching bars therefor. Fig. 55 is n sidewelevationof e pair of cooperating scutching members. Fig. 56. is a side elevationoi one of the s'eutching bars of .thezform shownin 53. 57 is a.diagrammetic perspective of the Tscutching elements. 58$ 5. illustratingthe manner in which the parts may be 7 terchangeahly rep'leced; removedor 'adjust'ed in the supporting frame.

,The apparahiseolnprises' a series or plumlity of sections oil-separabledevices, all mounted on a flame -or support, indicated at 1. Fprconvenience in transportation and particularly iii-order to render theapparatns available for the fiber 1n the'fieldwithont the necessity ofhauling the -same, Iprefer' to mount thosup'port or frame 1 on meanssuch as tmcks'or wheels '2,

said trucks or wheels for example, journaled in frames 3; 4,the'iorwardframe 3 being directly connected to the main frame providedv. with for adjus febly supporting .the rear and of ihemain irame 1, sothat the-frame and'lahe apparatus carried .1 an the rear me 1 beingthereby may be tilted upwardly and rearward] y for the purposehereinafter set forth. Said adjusting means may consist of a screw 5 andnuts 6 engaging therewith and with a cross bar 7 of the main frame 1.

The several sections of the machine are supported removably on the mainframe 1, said main frame consisting, for example, of two longitudinalbars, preferably channel irons, and each section of the machine beingprovided with means for clamping it in place on said channel irons insuch manner that each section may be adjusted longitudinally on theframe or maybe removed or placed in position if desired.

At one end of the main frame there is provided a feed table 10 which mayslope forwardly and; downwardly toward the other end of the'machine toaid in carrying the material into the first section of the apparatus. Arake 11 may be located at the lower end of this feed table to straightenthe stalks as they pass into the machine and to prevent overfeeding,said rake comprising a cross bar provided with a series of fingers 12extending forwardly and downwardly into proximity with the table andprovided with spring means 14 tending to hold said fingers in suchproximity, allowing them to yield when feeding broken up tangled stalks.

The first. section of the apparatus comprising the crushing, splittingand breaking devices may be mounted in a single frame 17 detachablysupported on the main frame 1 and provided with bearings for the shafts18 of the lower rolls of the respective devices and with pedestals 19for journal blocks 20 in which the shafts 21 of the upper rolls of saiddevices'are journaled. Springs 22 1nay be provided for giving elasticpressure on.said journal blocks to control the pressure of the saiddevices and screw means 23 may be provided for limiting the downwardmovement of the upper rolls-and thereby controlling the amount ofseparation between the rolls of each device. Screws 23 for opposite endsof the rolls may be connected by sprocket wheels 25 and chains 25 toadjust both ends of the 'rolls in unison.

The crushing rolls, indicated at 24, are the first in the series and arepreferably smooth, cylindrical rollers adapted to crush and flatten outthe stalks and to partially loosen the fibers from the rest of thestalk, but without splitting or breaking the stalk. Said crushing rolls24 also serve as feeding rolls. This operation is controlled by the.vertical adjustment of the upper roller by the means stated Splittingrolls 27 which are the second set of rolls in the apparatus are providedwith circumferential. ribs 28 and are so adjusted by the adjusting meansabove described that said ribs intermesh (see Fig. 4) sufliciently tosplit the outer portion of the stalk, by which the fiber is adjustingdevices being such as to cause the corrugations to internieshsufficiently to break the inner or woody portion of the stalks, alreadyrendered liinber by the precedent crushing and splitting operations, butnot to rub or squeeze the same. The

corrugations in rolls 29 are adapted, as regards spacing and depth, tothe fiber being treated, rolls with corrugations of variant size beingprovided, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and the rolls being replaced orsubstituted according to requirements of the fiber stalks. In some casesa plurality of sets or pairs of breaking rolls may be provided as shownin Fig, .39, where 29 and 29" show rolls fol-- lowing after the rolls 29with successively coarser or deeper corrugations, so as to produce anincreasing or successive breaking effect on the stalks, this gradualoperation being necessary, when the fiber will not stand. the strongeraction which would be required for breaking ata single'operat-ion, suchsets being attached independently and forming a part of theinitialapparatus which comprises the crushing, splitting and breaking devicesand which in one form or another is required for operation with any andall kinds of fiber. The means for detachably supporting the frame ofthis section of the apparatus on the main frame 1 may be of any suitableconstruction consisting, for example, of eve bolts 32 engaging overhooks 33 on the frame 17 of the device and engaging in slots 34 inaplate 35 extending under the main frame bar 1 and provided with nuts 36whereby they may be clamped into position or may be detached forremoval-or longitudinal adjustment of the device or section of theapparatus as a whole.

The .several sets or rollers above described may be driven by anysuitable means, so as to rotate in the same direction at the properspeed. Thus. as shown in Fig. 1. gears 37 may be provided on the up-'per rollers and gears 38 on'the lower rollers engaging the upper gears37, a driving gear 39 being provided on a driving shaft 40 and engagingone of the lower gears 38 and idlers 41 being provided between therespective lower gears, so that all. of said gears are. driven from thesaid driving shaft.

The element or section of the machine following the devices abovedescribed is the s'cutching means 42, see Figs. 10 to 12,

mounted in' a frame 43 resting on the side bars 1 and clamped thereto bya releasable clamp means, asabove described for the first section of theapparatus. Said frame is provided with bearings 44 for shafts 44, eachof said shafts carrying a pair of sprocket wheels45 for supporting andoperating the lower carrier consisting of chains 46 engaging saidsprocket wheels and bars 47 extending transversely between said chains.The framc43 is provided with brackets 48 adjustably mounted thereon byset screws 49 and clamping means 50, said bracket being formed withbearings 51' for shafts 51 for sprocket wheels 52 carrying chains 53 foran upper carrier provided with cross bars 47, extending between saidchains.

The shafts 44, 51 for the upper and lower carriers are driven by meansof gears 55 thereon, said gears 55 on the said shafts at one end, saythe end nearest the preceding mechanism, are preferably driven from saidmechanism by means of an idler gear 56 engaging Wltllt-llB last gear 381n the said preceding mechanism and with a gear 57' on the said shaft44, the proportion of the comb and strip the same, said projectionsconsisting, for example, of pyramidal or Wedge-shaped teeth on the bars47, as indicated at 58 in Fig. 13. or, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the.said projections may 4 bewedge-shaped, said .teeth being spacedaccording to requirements being, for example, large and widely spacedapart, as shown in Fig. 13, or close together, as shown in Fig. 16, orsaid teeth maybe formed by rounding the top of the bar, as-indicated at47 in Fig. .18, and cutting notches 59 therein, or as shown in Fig. 21,the wedge-shaped teeth may be formed in a metal plate 60 removablyattached ,by fastening means 61 to the bar indicated at 47 Or as shownin Fig. 22, the said bar and teeth may be formed integrally in the shapeof T-bar 63 having teeth 64 ,formed in itsupper flange. In each of theabove cases the projections on the bars are wedge shaped or upwardlytapering, forming V-shaped notches in the bars, between the teeth, thesenotches receiving .the fiberand stripping off the woody matter whileallowing the fiber to pass. It 50 will be understood that the term,V-shaped notches as herein used includes any form of notches adapted toact in the same manner.

The teeth or scutching projections on the 55 lower carrier member faceupwardly and the teeth or scutching projections on the upper carriermember face downwardly w en in action on the fiber and it is preferredto so adjust the said carrier members that said teeth int-ermesh orextend between one another in the adjacent portions of the carriermembers, said carrier-members being driven at the same speed, so thatthe scutching bars with the teeth thereon form a series of alternatinghigher and lower surfaces, the high surfaces being directed upwardly andthe lower surfaces being directed downwardly and the fiber being drawnand cleaned between the same in a sinuous or zig-zag'course, ashereinafter described. 8 In thus extending between the upper and lowerscutchingbars, the fiber tends to lie in the depressions between theteeth in said bars and I prefer to arrange the said teeth as showninFig. 15, so that in passing from the depression in the lower bar tothe depression in the next bar in the upperseries andso on, the fiber.will follow a-zig-zag course, and the teeth on the lower bars beingopposite the line of the depressions in the upper bar. Or asshown in'Fig. 14, the depressions on one bar may be in line with the depressionson the other. The chains of the scutching mechanism are loosely mountedso as to vibrate or shake vertically in the operation of the machine,thereby subjecting the fiber to a scutching or beating operation.

. The next mechanism in order is the softening means, Figs. 23 and 24,comprising 109 rolls 65 mounted in bearings 66. in the pedestal frame 67supported by releasable clamping means 32, as above described, on themain frame bars 1 and provided with elastic pressure means '68 andadjusting screw 69 for adjusting the height thereof. Saidrolls 65 areprovided with longitudinal corrugations 62 and said corrugations in thiscase are soshaped that when the rolls are properly adjusted, saidcorrugations 110 will intermesh-more closely than the corrugations inthebreaking rolls and in such manner that when the'fiber passes betweenthem it will be subjected to friction and a squeezing or rubbing action.and thereby softening the fiber as well as the residue of bark, etc.,which adheres to the fiber. The said softening rolls are driven by gears70 on shafts 66 for the upper and lower rolls. An idler gear? 1 ismounted in suitable 1'20 hearings on the frame 1 and engaging with agear wheel 73 on a shaft 44 for the preceding mechanism. These softeningrolls move with higher peripheral velocity than the crushing, splittingand breaking rolls, so as to maintain the fibers taut, but at .lessvelocity thanthe scutching means.

The next mechanism in order is the second scutching mechanism 72comprising upper and lower carrier members, transverse scutching barsthereon and operating gears, said mechanism being similar to the firstscutching mechanism, above described, except that the projections orteeth on the scutching bars are closer together, so as to produce a morethorough scutching, stripping, drawing, spreading and combing action.This second scutching mechanism is driven from the preceding mechanismby means of an idler 56 engaging with a gear of said preceding mechanismand with a gear 57 of said scutching mechanism, generally in such mannerthat the second scutching mechanism is driven at higher linear velocitythan the first scutching mechanism. In some cases, however, it is ofadvantage to drive the first scutching device ata higher speed than thesecond, or the speed of any of the scutching devices can be changed orregulated as best suited to the requirements.

For some purposes, the mechanism so far described will sufliee fortreatment of the fiber, but in other cases supplementary mechanism willbe required comprising rubbing devices and hackling devices, either orboth of which may be used according to circumstances.

The rubbing devices, see Figs. 28 to 31, comprise a series of rollersmounted on a frame detachably supported on the supporting frame 1, asabove described, for the preceding mechanisms, a plurality of lowerrolls 76 having their shafts 77 j ournaled in said frame 75 and aplurality of upper rolls 78 having their shafts 79 journaled in framebars 80 adjustably supported by means 81 providing for verticaladjustment on cross bars 82 movable in guides 83 transversely of theframe 75, so that the upper rollers may be iven a vibratory motionlongitudinally 0% their axis of rotation. Rolls 76, 78 are driven bygears 84 on the shaft, idlers 86 and a gear 92 driven by the last gearof the preceding mechanism. The rollers 76 and 78 are roughened as bymeans of grooving or knurling, indicated at 85, so as to present asurface adapted to frictionally engage the fiber and rub the same in theaforesaid vibratory movement of the rolls. Said vibratory movement maybe produced by any suitable means, for example, by eecentrics 87 on ashaft 88 mounted in brackets 89 and driven by driving gears 90, saideccentrics working in slots 91 in the cross bars 82, so that therotation of the same operates the said cross bars and the upper rollscarried thereby to and fro endwise over the lower rollers. In place ofthe knurling of these rubbing rollers they may be provided with eitheroblique or spiral grooves, as indicated at 93 in Fig. 32 and 94-. inFig. 33.

In place of the operating mechanism for imparting the vibratory movementto the nism 10$),

rollers any other suitable means may be provided therefor, forexample,the means shown in Figs. 40 to 42. The shafts 79 of said rollsbeing. in this case mounted to slide longitudinally in the upper framebars 80 and being provided with necks 96 engaged by lugs 97 on anoperating bar 98, said operating bar being reciprocated, for example, bymeans of eccentric 99 driven by any suitable means and engaging one endof the bar, the other end of said bar being pivoted as at 100, or, ifdesired, the said bar may be operated by an eccentric at each end in themanner shown in Fig. 2!).

In place of the cylindrical rubbing rolls above described, rubbingplates may be provided, as shown in Fig. 48, where 102 esignates theplates jointed together by pivotal connections 103, so as to form anendless chain running around sprocket rollers 104 which are mounted andoperated as above described for the rubbing rolls 76 and 78. In thiscase the upper carrier is shown as driven by means of gearing 106, 107,in such manner as to move at one-half the speed of the lower carrier.

The rubbing mechanism above described may be followed by a thirdscutching mechasimilar to the second scutching mechanism, but driven athigher velocity and with finer teeth. This supplementary scutchingmechanism may be succeeded, or in some cases, replaced by the hacklingmechanism now to be described, or may be followed b an idler 108.

The hac ling mechanism is mounted in a frame 110 adjustably supported onthe main frame bars 1, as above described, and comprises lower and uppermembers provided with projections adapted to hackle the fiber. In theform shown in Figs. 34 and 35, both of said members are movable in thesame direction, consisting of chains 111, 112 mounted on sprocket wheels113, 114. and provided with cross bars 116 secured thereto, said crossbars being provided with pins or teeth 117 and the upper carrier beingsupported by suitable adjusting means 118, so that the teeth on thelower run thereof extend downwardly between the paths of movement of theupwardly extending pins 117 which extend upwardly from the cross bars116 on the lower carrier. These pins may consist of metallic pointedstuds inserted in wooden or metal cross bars; as indicated in Figs. 36and 37, or as shown in Fig. 38, they may consist of integral projectionson a metallic cross bar 120.

In the form shown in Fig. 34, the upper carrier is geared to move in thesame direction as the lower carrier, the lower'carrier moving forwardlyin the direction of movement of the fiber with a speed in excess of thatof the receding mechanisms and the operative portion of the uppercarrier mov- 122 mounted in fixed position on the frame by any suitablemeans and provided with downwardly extending pins 123 adapted tocotiperate with the pins 12 1 of the lower hackling member.

It will be noted that each of the given mechanisms are driven by thepreceding mechanism, for example, by one or more idler gearsengagingwith the last gear ele ment of the preceding member and with the firstgear element of the succeeding member, so that when the parts areremoved or replaced they are brought immediately into driving relationwith the adjoining parts.

As indicated in F ig.- 58, any one of the elements or devices in theapparatus-can be moved or slid bodily along the supporting frame 1, soas to bring it to proper position for operation, or can be removedbodily therefrom, the scutching device being shown in process ofremoval. Or, if desired, it can be lifted bodily off the frame and theremaining members slid up so as to close the gap and form a continuousmachine. Moreover, the rolls in the various devices may be interchangedwith rolls of other .dimensions of operative corrugations, etc as abovedescribed, the top plates of the pedestals for the journal blocks ofsaid rolls being removably attached. When the devices are in properposition they may be locked together by pins 125 engaging with holes 125in adjoining frames of said devices, or other suitable means.

The seed recovery means 9 consists of a case, hopper or chamberextending beneath the frame 1 and inclosed in such manner as to receiveand collect all of the seeds and refuse that are loosened and separatedfrom the fiber. Said member 9 may consist of a plate extending forwardlyand downwardly from the rear end of the machine and provided at itsforward portion with a perforated portion 126 forming a screen throughwhich the seed falls and with a discharge spout or delivery outlet 127at its forward end to carry off the hurds or waste matter. A scrapingdevice consisting, for example, of a. chain 128 mounted on sprockets 129driven in any suitable manner as by gear 130 engaging with the gear39,aforesaid,said chain carrying flights or blades 131 serves to'carrythe material deposited on the member 9 forwardly and upwardly towardsaid'discharge spout 127 and scraping the said material over the surfaceof the screen 126. Suitable closure means may be provided at each sideof the seed receiving means, as indicated at 132, to retain the materialthereon. Supplementary screens 134, 135 may be provided in a box 136beneath the screen 126 to separate the chaff from the seeds, the chaffpassing out of openings 137 and the seeds passing to a well 138 whence asuitable con veyer, such as a screw 139, discharges them to any suitablereceptacle, said conveyor be ing driven by means, such as belt 140.

The process is carried out in the above described apparatus, as follows,special reference being had to Fig. 48 showing, in a diagrammaticmanner, the assemblage of the series of devices for operatingsuccessively on the fiber. The fiber stalks are passed from the feedingtable 10'between the pair of smooth rollers, said stalks passing betweenthe fingers of the rake device 11, so that they are straightened as theyI pass between the rolls 27 and said rolls serv- 1 ing to crushand'fiatten the stalks and also to feed them forwardly into theapparatus. :In this crushing operation the outer portions or skin of thestalks are subjected to a spreading action whereby the fibers arepartially loosened. From these rolls the fiber stalks pass to thesplitting rolls 27, whose circumferential ribs 28 engage with thesurfaces of the stalks in such manner as to split the same, by whichmeans the fiber is more thoroughly loosened from the stalk. The stalksthen pass between the breaking rolls 29, the corrugations of said rollsbeing spaced as indicated in Fig. 49, so as to bend the stalks, but notto pinch or squeeze them between the surfaces, the corrugations of thelower roll intermeshing with those of the upper roll, but being out ofcontact therewith and spaced therefrom a distance which at all parts isgreater than the thick ness of the stalk. This operation bends thestalks longitudinally in such manner as to break the interior or woodyportions of the stalks into small pieces and also break up the bark moreor less, but'without any rubbing action. The fiber comes from thesebreaking rolls with the Woody matter loosened and broken, but entangledwith the the fiber passes tothe scutching means 42, said scutching meansbeing driven at a linear velocity which .is considerably higher thanthat of the preceding mechanisms and tending to draw the fiber forwardlythrough its upper and lower membef's and at the same time, by engagementof the teeth or projections 58 on the said upper'and lower i'nemberswith the fiber to cause said teeth to scrape or strip the fibers,pulling the adherent -material, especially the wood or hurds, therefrom,the said scutcher thus producing drawing, combing and stripping actionson the fiber. Moreover, the chains 46, 53 of the carrier members beingsomewhat loose, the driving motion thereof produces considerablevertical vibration or flapping of said members, -wliereby the slats andprojections thereon are caused to beat or scutch the fiber, knocking thehurds therefrom. The teeth on the upper or lower members beingintermeshed or interspaced as shown in Fig. 15, the fiber is bent in azig-zag course in passing therethrough, both in a vertical plane, asindicated in Fig. 50, and in a horizontal plane, as indicated in Fig.51, thefiber resting in the notches or lowest portions of the scutchingbars between the teeth, this bending back and forth of the fiber inpassing between the teeth insuring that it will be brought intoeffective contact with the teeth for the stripping, combing and cleaningoperations.

The fiber passes from the scutching operation described to the softeningoperation performed by the rollers 65 whose corrugations 62 engage withthe fiber, as shown .in

Fig. 49, so as to exert a frictional pressure or rubbing action thereon,the minlmum distance between said corrugations being at least as smallas the average thickness of the fiber. This combined bending,squeezingand rubbing action on. the fiber softens the fiber as wellasloosening the refuse matter that still adheres to the fiber, for exam-'ple, portions of the bark, wood, etc. and renders them readily removablein the nextoperation. From the softening operation the fiber passes to asecond scutchin operation in.which it is subject to a repetltion of thespreading, scutching, stripping, drawing and combing operations, thissecond scutching operation being performed by mechanism traveling at ahigher rate of speed than the first scutching mechanism and with finerteeth, so that the operation is more thorough. Such fibers as hemp whenpreviously partially or Wholly retted, or other fibers that yield moreeasily to decortication, are now thoroughly clean 'enough to require nofurther treatment by my machine to make them marketable, but when fiberbearing stalks, such as ramie, flax, hemp, jute, sesbania and the like,are unretted,

they receive a further treatment in my process to bring them intoperfect condition for carding and combin superior to the roductsheretofore by passing the'fi or from the last scutching devlce into'theseries of rotating and longitudinally vibrating rolls 76, 78, whoseknurled or roughened surfaces, by their rotation, carr the materialforwardly and by their relatlve lateral movement or vibration, subjectthe material to a rubbing action which loosens the gum and bark, etc.,from the fiber. All of theserubbing rolls preferably travel at a greaterlinear velocity than the preceding mechanisms, so as to maintain thetension of the fiber. After this rubbing operation, the fiber is thenpassed through the supplementary scutching means 109 which subjects itto a repetition of the scutching, stripping, drawing and combingoperations, but with greater velocity and finer teeth in the operatingparts, whereby the fiber is freed from waste and refuse. r

It is an important feature of the present invention that the velocity ofthe fiber is continuously increased so as to maintain it in tense ortaut condition, each of the roller mechanisms after the first one beinggeared to move faster than the preceding roller mechanisms, so that eachmechanism tends to draw the fiber faster, and thereby maintain thetension. The scutching mechanisms may also increase in speed in orderofsequence, but move faster than the roller mechanisms so as to effect thedrawing, combing and stripping operations. Should a still furthertreatment be desired to more thoroughly separate, part and hackle the,

fiber, or'fo-r preparing low grade fibers for the highest grade paperpulp, then the fiber ro uced. This is e ected may be subsequently passedthrough the hackling device shown in Figs. 34 and In the above describedoperations on the fiber the seed is loosened and detached from the fiberand falls into the receiver 9, the conveyer or scra ing means 128operating to scrape the seed and refuse over the screen 126, the seedpassing through said screen and through the sieves below the same andbeing delivered by the means 139. Suitable means'may be provided forvibrating such screen. As such means are well known to mechanics, Ihavenot illustrated any such means 'herein. The waste or refuse, such aswood, bark, etc., passes out at delivery spout 127 and may be used forfuel or for any other purpose as desired.

It is desirable in practice to tilt the machine upwardly at the rearend, as indicated by the position ofthe series of devices in F'g. 48, sothat the effect of gravity is to tend to cause the separated waste andseeds to fall toward the front end of the machine seed to the side andrefuse at the front end" of the machine. This inclination of theapparatus may be prorfluced'byv the ad uSting means indicatedat 5 and 7Itwill be noted that all of the devices precedent to the softeningrollers are spaced so that there is no danger of crushing the seed andthe seed will fall easily between the parts and in practice all of theseed is separated from the stalks before it reaches the soft-eninrollers, so that there isv no bruising or amage of the seed or expulsionof oil therefrom. I

In treating leaf fiber, the leaves should first/be crushed while greenand freed from the juice contained in the fleshy parts by the usualmeansfor this purpose. The remainder is then dried and treated by myapparatus above described. Green fiber stalks of ramie and the like orgreen fiber bearing plants can also be cleaned by my machine, but allmetal parts have to be of brass or :other non-corroding material forthis'purpose.

Stalks on plants which have become tangled in such manner that the fiberlies in difierent directions and is tangled up so that it cannot be madeto pass through the machine in parallelism, can be effectually treatedby the above described apparatus, those fibers or stalks which extendmainly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ma- .chine beingoperated on as above described and the stalks or fibers. which lietransverse to this direction being broken longitudinally by thecircumferentially ribbed rolls and being then split longitudinally bythe operation of the longitudinal corrugated rolls.-

In this manner I am able to produce from plants or stalks which are in atangled con dition, such that they would be commercially worthless, afiber which is commerciallyvaluable.

What I claim is 1. In a machine for separating fibers from fiber bearingstalks, the combination of means for subjecting the'stalks to a rollingpressure to crush and flatten the stalks and cause loosenin of the outerportion from the inner portion thereof without breaking the innerportion, means receiving the stalk from said .first named means andacting thereon to split the outer portion or skin of the stalkcontaining the fiber without-breaking the inner portion. thereof, andmeans receiving the stalk from. said splitting means and adapted tosubject the stalk to longitudinal bending action suflicient to break theinner or woody portion of the stalk longitudinally.

'2. In a machine for separatin fibers from stalks containing the'same, te combination of smooth rollers adapted to receive the stalks betweenthem, means for rotating said rollers to cause the stalk to pass between"the rollers and to be crushed and flattened thereby, a second set ofrollers having circumferential ribs adapted to engage and split andlimber the stalks containing the fiber, means for rotating said secondset of rollers to cause the flattened stalks to pass therebetween, and athird 'set of rollers adapted to receive the stalks from said second setof rollers and provided with lon 'tudinal currugations 'intermeshing butsu ciently spaced apart to enable passage of the stalk between them andto bend the limbered stalks during such passage so as to pg'eak theinner or woody portion of the sta s.

3. In a machine for separating fibers from stalks, thecombination withmeans for feeding and breaking the stalks, scutching,

stripping and combing means adapted to receive-the stalks from the saidbreaking means,- and provided with stalk or fiber 9A) engagin membershaving V-shaped notches for receiving the fiber and pro ections betweensaid notches, means for receiving the fibers from said scutching meansand holding said fibers taut during the scutching operation, and meansfor driving the scutching means at a; greater rate of speed than themovement of the stalks from the feeding and breaking means.

A. A machine for separating fibers from stalks, the combination withmeans for -feeding and breaking the stalks, of scutchfrom said-scutchingmeans and holding the fiber taut in its movement through the scutchingmeans, and means for driving the scutching means at a greater "velocitythan the movement of the fiber therethrough.

5. In a machine for separating fibers from stalks, the combination withmeans for feeding and breaking the stalks, of scutching, stripping andcombing means adapted to receive the stalks or fiber from the aforesaidbreaking means, and comprising up er and lower flexible carriers, rotarymeans or supporting and operating said carriers, said

